Projection system



Augrzs, 1936. J VH s. HAMER I 2,051,848

PROJECTION SYSTEM Filed Aug. 12, 1932 5 INVENTOR James 11. S. Hanwr BY ms ATTORNEYS of my invention, ordinary transparent or semitraverse the section of the tape within the pro-* Patented Aug. 25, 19365 UNITED STATES PROJECTION SYSTEM James H. S. Hamer, Brooklyn, N. Y., assignor to Trans-Lux Daylight Picture Screen Corporation, New York, N. Y., a corporation of Delaware Application August 12, 1932, Serial no. 628,531

Claims. (01. 88-24) My invention relates to a projection system for obtaining images of characters or representations on a tape, or equivalent.

My invention, in one prominent phase thereof, relates to a projecting system wherein the projecting light beam passes substantially vertically and coacts with a horizontally movable characterbearing tape, the light beam thereafter being separated into individual light beams to simultaneously produce duplicate images of the same character. I

My invention, in other phases, thereof, relates to a projection system involving plural light-re flecting arrangements of simple character and high efiiciency.

Various other objects, advantages and characteristics of my invention will become apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing.

My invention resides in the projection or reflecting system, features and arrangement of parts of the character hereinafter described and claimed.

My invention relates particularly, but not necessarily, to a projection or reflecting system utilizable with projection mechanism of the general character disclosed in the copending Halloran application Serial No. 373,767, filed June 26, 1929 and which has become Patent No. 1,952,249 dated March 27, 1934,

For an understanding of my invention and for an illustration of some of the many forms thereof, reference is to be had to the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic, perspective view of a projection system arranged in accordance with my invention;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of a part of the projection system shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an emational view, partly in section, of a part of the projection system shown in Fig. 1; and

Fig. 4 is a perspective view showing another form of my invention.

Generally, in accordance with a preferred form transparent ticker tape emanating from stock ticker mechanism is passed by any suitable mechanism horizontally and fiatwise through a projection field with the inked surfaces forming the characters facing upwardly. By any suitable a1- rangement,- a projecting light beam is caused to jection field in substantially a vertical direction,

the light beam thereafter being defi'ectedso as' with a suitable arrangement for producing or While thus moving horizontally,

obtaining independent light beams, the latter, re-

spectively, passing to separate screens to cause the simultaneous image display of those ta characters then in the projection field.

More specifically, as shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, an arrangement constructed in accordance with my invention may comprise a suitable source of light A such, for example, as an incandescent electric lamp, light from which may pass substantially horizontally through one lens L of a suitable condensing lens system. The light beam after traversing the lens L and while passing substantially horizontally engages a mirror or other suitable reflecting member M to cause said light beam to pass substantially vertically first through another lens Ll of the condensing lens system and then through any suitable aperture I formed or constituted by a member 2, said aperture I defining the projection field of the projection system and with respect to which the tape 'I' is movable in the direction of the arrows, Figs. 1 and 2, after said tape leaves the ticker mechanism, not shown. As shown, the characters on the-tape T are written and readable lengthwise thereof.

With the form of my invention shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, the projection light beam is deflected from its substantially vertical course after leaving the projection field by a prism P which, obviously, may be replaced by a mirror or any other suitable reflector. From the prism P, the light beam passes substantially horizontally and traverses a suitable objective lens L2 after which said light beam is separated into independent light beams in any suitable manner.

As herein shown although not necessarily, the arrangement for obtaining independent light beams comprises crossed mirrors MI and M2 arranged at angles of 90 degrees with respect to each other and at angles of 45 degrees with respect to the axis of the light beam traversing the objective lens L2 whereby the independent light beams pass laterally in opposite directions and at angles of 90 degrees with respect to the axis of said light beam traversing the objective lens L2. Ml 'and'MZ with respect to each other and with respect to the axis of said light beam, may .be varied from that stated in a desired manner whereby the independent light beams are obliquely related to the axis of the light beam traversing the objective lens L2.

With theform of my invention shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, the independent light beam reflected by themirror Ml passes more or less horizontally to a mirror M3 and then more or less vertically to a mirror M4, the latter refiectingsaid light beam preferably in substantially a horizontal direction to a suitable screen 8., Similarly, the other independent light beam passes more or less horizontally to a mirror M5, then more or less vertically to a mirror M6 and then substantially horizontally to a screen SI.

With the form of my invention herein shown the screens S and SI are of the character adapted for rear projection wherein the projecting light beam passes throughthe screen in order to reach the audience, the images being readable by observation of the front of each screen. With an arrangement of the character described, the images appear on the respective screen S and SI in vertical position and in the same order as the characters are printed on the tape T, said images on the respective screens simultaneously passing in opposite directions in correspondence with the tape movement. The screens S and SI should be disposed substantially vertically and preferably they are in substantially parallel relation, the length of the light paths between each screen and the objective lens L2 being approximately equal.

In the form of my invention shown in Fig. 4, the light beams after leaving the respective mirrors MI and M2 pass directly and without refiection to the respective screens S and SI Under most circumstances, the use of a system of the character shown in Fig. 1 is desirable and advantageous. However, at times, it may be desirable to use the simpler and more efficient projection arrangement of Fig. 4.

In Fig. 4, the optical system for the main light beam prior to engagement thereof with the crossed mirrors. MI and M2 may be the same as shown in Fig. 1. However, as shown in Fig. 4,

the prism P is replaced by a mirror M1 and the objective lens is placed in the vertical part of the light beam path rather than in the horizontal part thereof. It shall be understood, if desired, that the optical system just described may be substituted for the corresponding parts of the generally equivalent system of Fig. 1.

While the invention has been described with respect to certain particular preferred examples which give satisfactory results, it will be understood by those skilled in the art after understanding the invention, that various changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention and it is intended therefore in the appended claims to cover all such changes and modifications.

What is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. In a projection system, the combination with a plurality of spaced screens disposed in substantially vertical back-to-back relation, of a projection field with respect to which a tape having characters reading lengthwise thereof is horizontally movable while disposed fiatwise, said projection field having its longer dimension disposed transversely of the planes of said screens and said tape following the course defined by said projection field whereby the path of tape movement is transversely disposed with respect to the planes of said screens, means for passing a projecting light beam upwardly through said projection field and the tape section defined thereby, and means for obtaining on said screens images of the tape characters which move horizontally in correspondence with movement of the tape, said last named means comprising an objective lens traversed by said light beam and an arrangement for dividing said light beam into separate beams which pass to said screens, respectively.

2. In a projection system, the combination with a plurality of spaced screens disposed in substantially vertical relation, of a projection field with respect to which a tape having characters reading lengthwise thereof is horizontally movable while disposed fiatwise, said projection field having its longer dimension disposed transversely of the planes of said screens and said tape following the course defined by said projection field whereby the path of tape movement is transversely disposed with respect to the planes of said screens, means for passing a projecting light beam upwardly through said projection field and the tape section defined thereby, and means for obtaining on said screens images of the tape characters which move horizontally in correspondence with movement of the tape, said last named means comprising an objective lens traversed by said light beam and an arrangement for dividing said light beam into separate beams which pass to said screens, respectively, the light beam traversing said objective lens passing substantially horizontally to said dividing arrangement.

3. In a projection system, the combination with a plurality of spaced screens disposed in substantially vertical relation, of a projection field with respect to which a tape having characters reading lengthwise thereof is horizontally movable while disposed fiatwise, and means comprising duplicate light-reflecting systems and an objective lens for obtaining on said screens images of i the tape characters which move horizontally in correspondence with movement of the tape, said objective lens being traversed by a light beam emanating from said projection field, each lightreflecting system, beyond said objective lens, having less than four mirrors.

4. In a projection system, the combination with a plurality of spaced screens disposed in substantially vertical relation, of a projection field with respect to which a tape having characters reading lengthwise thereof is horizontally movable while disposed fiatwise, and means comprising duplicate light-reflecting systems and an objective lens for obtaining on said screens images of the tape characters which move horizontally in correspondence with movement of the tape, said objective lens being traversed by a light beam emanating from said projection field, each lightrefiecting system, beyond said objective lens, having but one mirror.

5. In a projection system, the combination with a plurality of spaced screens disposed in substantially vertical back-to-back relation, of a projection field with respect to which a tape having characters reading lengthwise thereof is horizontally movable while disposed fiatwise, said projection field having its longer dimension disposed transversely of the planes of said screens and said tape following the course defined by said projection field whereby the path of tape movement is transversely disposed with respect to the planes of said screens, and means comprising duplicate light-reflecting systems and an objective lens for obtainingon said screens images 01 the tape characters which move horizontally in correspondence with movement of the tape, saic' objective lens being traversed by a light bean emanating from said projection field, said reflecting systems comprising means for dividing said light beam into separate light beams whicl pass to the respective screens along separate noncrossing paths.

JAMES H. S. HAMER. 

